v7n041, 29-Feb-00

MOTOROLA'S 1X PLUS PROPOSAL PROMISES 5 MBPS CDMA RATES
Motorola announced a 1X Plus technology that it claims will deliver wireless data rates of more than 5 Mbps on existing CDMA infrastructure. If achievable, the technology would enable operators to achieve 3G-like data rates without having to purchase new spectrum or clear 5MHz of congested existing spectrum. Motorola's 1X Plus proposal builds on the existing cdma2000 1X air interface and offers a twofold increase in data capacity and the flexibility to mix voice and data in the same 1.25 MHz of spectrum. Motorola said it is holding discussions with several key industry participants in the drive for an open standards approach. Motorola also outlined its vision for a wireless, wireline and cable communications architecture that combines voice, data and multimedia into one IP-based network. The Motorola Aspira architecture will be closely mapped to UMTS. The company has a strategic alliance with Cisco Systems. Motorola also formed an alliance with NARUS to jointly develop, market and implement mobile (IP-based billing mediation solutions. http://www.motorola.com/
February 28, 2000

In November, QUALCOMM outlined plans for a family of High Data Rate (HDR) chipsets and software that could deliver up to 2.4 Mbps peak rate in a standard cdmaOne 1.25 MHz channel bandwidth. QUALCOMM's target delivery date was Q4 2000.

CIENA LAUNCHES METRO ONE TRANSPORT FOR SINGLE OPTICAL CHANNEL DROPS
Ciena announced a lower cost, metropolitan optical transport solution designed for locations where a single optical channel needs to be dropped, such as a customer site. The new MultiWave Metro One is an entry version of CIENA's MultiWave Metro platform, which support multiple wavelengths. The Metro One has reduced space and power requirements and could be used to deliver IP, ATM, SONET/SDH, ESCON and Gigabit Ethernet services. http://www.ciena.com/news/archive/2000/02/02.28.2000pr.html
Ciena, February 28, 2000

CORNING PRESENTS NEW APPROACH TO OPTICAL AMPLIFICATION WITH 6X DISTANCE
At next week's Optical Fiber Communications (OFC) conference, Corning will demonstrate a new approach to optical amplification that uses an integrated Raman and PureGain EDFA prototypes to enable DWDM signals to travel at least six times farther than is currently possible over LEAF fiber. The solution is expected to reduce the need to regenerate signals from optical, to electrical and back to optical over long haul networks. Corning will also introduce a line of LEAF fibers for undersea cables, a reconfigurable optical add/drop module is capable of individually adding or dropping specific wavelengths at 100GHz or 200GHz, and a micro-optics-based interleaver filter that could be used to double (100Ghz - 50GHz) or quadruple (200GHz - 50GHz) the available channel count for a given wavelength range in both metropolitan and long-haul DWDM systems. http://www.corningphotonics.com/
Corning, February 28, 2000

METROMEDIA SIGNS $100 MILLION DARK FIBER DEAL WITH COGENT COMMUNICATIONS
Metromedia Fiber Network announced a 20-year agreement valued at more than $100 million to provide dark fiber to Cogent Communications, a start-up that will provide access services to commercial office buildings in major US cities. Cogent initially will deploy in-building Gigabit Ethernet networks to deliver 100 Mbps Internet access services to business suites. Markets covered by the deal include New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Seattle, San Francisco/San Jose, and Los Angeles. http://www.mmfn.com
Metromedia, February 28, 2000

EQUIPE TO BUILD OPTICAL EDGE SOLUTIONS
Equipe Communications, a start-up targeting optical edge solutions, received $9 million in seed funding from Battery Ventures, Matrix Partners and North Bridge Venture Partners. The company is led by Dennis Rainville, who formerly served as VP of Hardware Engineering at Lucent/Ascend Communications/Cascade Communications. Equipe's engineering group includes Chris Noel (Ascend), Terry Pearson (Nortel/Bay/Wellfleet), and Joe Whitehouse (Ascend). The company is based in Acton, MA. http://www.equipecom.com/
Equipe, February 28, 2000

XTERA SETS SIGHTS ON LONG-HAUL FIBER-OPTICS
Xtera Communications, a start-up targeting long-haul fiber optics, secured $17.5 million in second-round financing led by ComVentures, New Enterprise Associates (NEA), and Sevin Rosen. Xtera was founded by Dr. Mohammed Islam, a professor at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. The company is based in Sunnyvale, California and has facilities in Dallas, Texas. http://www.xtera.com/
Xtera Communications, February 28, 2000

CELOTEK ANNOUNCES IPSEC CHIPSET SCALEABLE TO OC-48
Celotek Corporation announced an OC-48 IPSec chipset implementation targeted at next generation VPN products. Celotek�s chipset is a fully functional, scaleable IPSec system that performs packet processing, encryption and authentication and complete Internet Key Exchange Protocol (IKE) processing. The solution will offer OC-48 throughput, latency between 20 and 250 microseconds, 262,000 security associations and the capability to set up 1,000 tunnels per second. Celotek said its technology would enable network-based VPN offerings with low latency capable of securing time-sensitive applications, including voice over IP and videoconferencing. It will also provide high tunnel establishment rates and a dense security association database necessary to enable high-volume remote access VPNs. Celotek's existing product line includes ATM cryptographic systems operating at full wire speed -- up to 622 Mbps full duplex. http://www.celotek.com/
Celotek Corporation, February 28, 2000

NEWBRIDGE CITES RISING LMDS SALES
Newbridge Networks' LMDS broadband wireless solutions are now being used by more than 60 customers, including Bell South International, Toshiba, BT Belgium, Telenordia, MaxLink, Home Telephone, Central Texas Telephone, Gateway Telecom, TriCorners Telecommunications and South Central Telecom. Sales of broadband wireless accounted for 15% of Newbridge revenues in its most recent fiscal quarter. http://www.newbridge.com/
Newbridge Networks, February 28, 2000

LUCENT ANNOUNCES HOME WIRELESS NETWORKING (WI-FI, 802.11) SYSTEM
Lucent Technologies unveiled a wireless Internet access and networking system that uses IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi)-compliant technology to provide 11Mbps speed over the unlicensed 2.4GHz spectrum, with ranges of up to 1200 feet. The Lucent ORINOCO PC Card fits into laptop or mobile computing devices and provides Ethernet connectivity to other 802.11 compliant systems and hubs, including the Apple AirPort system. Lucent will also supply a Residential Gateway access point device that functions as a network base station and provides wireless Internet access. A larger WavePOINT II Access Point hub will be available for business networks. http://wavelan.com/
Lucent Technologies, February 28, 2000

ALCATEL SELECTS STMICROELECTRONICS DSP CORE FOR ITS FUTURE DESIGNS
Alcatel will adopt the STMicroelectronics ST100 as its preferred Digital Signal Processor (DSP) core for future system-on-chip solutions for DSL and VoIP. http://www.st.com
STMicroelectronics, February 28, 2000

WEBEX RECEIVES ORACLE INVESTMENT FOR ONLINE MEETING SYSTEM
WebEx, a start-up that provides online meetings on the Web, received an investment from the Oracle Venture Fund to expand its infrastructure. As part of the deal, WebEx will migrate from Microsoft SQL/Server to Oracle8i to scale its online operations. Financial terms were not disclosed. The WebEx Meeting Center, which is offered on a subscription basis, provides real-time data collaboration (whiteboards and presentation software), as well as audio and video conferencing through a standard browser.
http://webex.com
WebEx, February 28, 2000

SEDONA NETWORKS RAISES $22 MILLION FOR ITS MULTISERVICE PLATFORM
Sedona Networks, a start-up developing a multiservice access architecture, secured US$22 million from HarbourVest Partners, North Bridge Venture Partners, Atlas Venture, BDC and Ventures West. Sedona Networks said its forthcoming Services Internetworking Architecture would distribute key network functionality while integrating disparate network elements for enhanced flexibility and scalability. The company is led by Joseph Elchakieh, who previously was President of Westell Canada. Sedona Networks is based in Kanata, Canada. http://www.sedonanetworks.com
Sedona Networks, February 28, 2000

INTERNET APPLIANCE NETWORK SECURES $20 MILLION IN SECOND ROUND OF FINANCING
Internet Appliance Network, a New York-based marketing and media services company, secured $20 million in its second round of funding. The company will soon introduce its first branded Internet appliance, the "Webplayer", as part of a partnership with Virgin Entertainment Group. IAN and Virgin plan to distribute thousands of branded Internet devices to consumers. http://www.internetappliance.net/
Internet Appliance Network, February 28, 2000